Ramrod thimbles

[Maineshops]

It has been generally recommended that I use 1/4 in ramrod. I’m having trouble finding 1/4 pipes. Track otw don’t seem to have them. What is the thought on the diameter of the ramrod groove for a 1/4 inramrod?  Appreciate your thoughts. Dan

[Dennis Glazener]

RR thimbles are easy to make, I think they is a tutorial in the tutorial forum. Make them to fit your RR. Go a !little oversize  to allow easy removal of RR.
Dennis

[Long John]

Dan,

The only time I use a quarter-inch loading rod is on a short-barreled pistol.  Is that what you are making?  Is you loading rod steel?  For long guns I think quarter-inch wooden rods are just way too easy to break.  Once the loading rod is broken you are done shooting.  I think of the loading rod as a tool I NEED to keep the gun shooting.  When we sacrifice necessary strength for the sake of appearance we are in questionable territory.  I think you ought to re-think this some.

Best Regards,

JMC
John Cholin

[rich pierce]

I guess we need to know the caliber of the gun.

[smallpatch]

There are very few circumstances that I would recommend a ¼" rod. I'm thinking 30cal barrel?
Anything larger, at least 5/16".

[T*O*F]

I solved that problem like this.  This is a small .410 fowler.  I drilled the ramrod hole 1/4", but used 5/16ths thimbles.  I fashioned a jag with a taper, so that when it was seated the ramrod was slightly wedged in place, thus holding it firm.

[rsells]

I use a 1/4 inch rod when I build .29 and .30 cal rifles.  I make the ramrod pipes for these rifles.  I have not seen any commercially available 1/4 thimbles available.  It is not a really hard process to make the thimbles, but I dislike doing the decorative filings on fancy ones.  Making fancy thimbles is not a favorite job of mine no matter what size I am making.
                                                                                                    Roger Sells

[Maineshops]

best image host

The cal is 32 and the pic is the refle I built 50 or so years ago and I used .312 ramrod and it dosen’t look too klunky. I think I’ll go with the 5/16.
I guess I could make the tubes but there are so many other things that I have to learn I don’t think I want to add much more. Dan

[Pete G.]

RR pipes are easy to make, but they are even easier to buy; that is if the style and length available are what you are looking for.

[flinchrocket]

MBS has ramrod pipe kits. They are basically already made. You can solder the tabs or leave them like they are,cheaper than you can make yourself.

[Maineshops]

Not familiar with mbs ?

[ltdann]

https://www.muzzleloaderbuilderssupply.com/